The purpose is to solve the problem that is the world we live in. You do seem to be implying an interesting point that it might not lead to independent thinkers, however it does appear that the world portrayed manages to actually develop such, anyway. While people are conditioned to follow orders, they're also conditioned to take command should something happen to their commander, which requires more thinking. I think it more or less comes down to what Dr. Peterson referred to as "complete submisson to the master." While I would argue that this is particularly bad from an educational standpoint, I can see the value of it: someone of independent thought shouldn't argue and disagree for the sake of disagreeing. However, I do believe that feedback is necessary for the master to find out where their instruction may have gone wrong: as the master is most likely not a master of passing on their trade.

But, to be blunt, we kinda actually do live in that world where the leaders are people who take orders well. Look at the 4th estate. Look at how congressmen cower every time they get even the slightest bit of threat (From the people harassed in elevators to the capitol protests and onward, our leaders are damned cowards who are pretty good at taking orders when given: especially look at poor Bernie Sanders who doesn't know what it's like to keep ahold of his microphone). I don't know who the puppet masters are, but I don't think the puppet masters realize they're the masters, which is probably the one thing saving us right now (lots of people think they're in control, but they're not).

My first major release will be free, and whether or not i charge for future games will be determined by that game's reception (i'm leaning towards not high at all). I'd rather start a famous game development movement instead of making a famous game. I have some ideas that i don't see really being employed that would certainly make game development alot easier, especially for game with building mechanics, but would still work with just about all game genres. The industry seems to be doing a poor job of learning anything other than how to throw shit at the walls and see which turds stick. I mean, common, when Among Us is one of the top games right now, something is seriously wrong. I've certainly seen similar games which do it alot better, but all are much older. I also see alot of open markets that are being left untapped. The thing is, to compete, you wouldn't even have to make something drastically new for it to scratch the itches people are having right now. However, I won't persue these right now, because, I have a niche that I want filled that is far easier for me to approach than these other areas (largely, because I'm the only one i can hack together for my projects, and I really do have a sort of dream goal in mind). If there's some competent programming students out there that aren't tied down yet by some corporation and they want to make a game, believe me, I have some ideas for them, as well as how to make the development alot easier on them than what one would initially imagine.

I know of one market begging for some college age developers, and that market will take anything from RPGs to platformers, first person shooters, even match-3, etc. I don't expect these markets to be tackled to any respectable degree within 5-10 years. But there's lots of voids out there.

It would at the very, very least put a massive curtail on spam if implemented sensibly.

Are you talking DRM-Free? If so, what alternatives? I only know of the ZOOM Platform, and they seem to be stuck in Limbo, so not a serious contender at this point.

DRM-Free in any case is a tough ask. GOG have developed a sizable customer base, when the notion of DRM-Free was a lot more romantic seeming than it has become now. Many have gotten used to and accepted the Steam model.

Zoom i'm not that familiar with, we have DLSite, Humble (although not exclusively DRM-free), itch, the various porn game releasers (they all seem DRM-free), and Japan seems to have a ton of DRM-Free stores that are just accepted as DRM-free (not a major advertising point), where self-published things like the Touhou games can be bought.

You can't include stores like Humble and Itch.io. They are not a DRM-Free store, they just happen to have a number of DRM-Free games, and in the case of Itch.io they are not AAA, AA or mainstream games either, generally. If you include them, you might as well include Steam and Epic, who have a good number of DRM-Free games.

Like I said, the ZOOM Platform is the only other store I know of that is exclusively DRM-Free.

I guess they don't have to be exclusively DRM-Free, but it certainly has to be their main core of business by a large margin, and have games of a similar calibre to GOG.

Many stores have a number of DRM-Free games, but they have so few it is like a gimmick.

Yes, I'm sure the people who had to do forced labor for IKEA in German jails (GDR) were very happy about the great employment and the moral and democratic values of that company.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/business/global/ikea-to-report-on-allegations-of-using-forced-labor-during-cold-war.html

What games on itch have DRM? The stores i've been to are mostly DRM-free games, though i'll give you Humble, as it's mostly steam keys anymore.
Reminds me of Facebook's employee benefits and such: they subcontract all but upper administration to other companies that pay barely a wage.

Syberia 3 for example is just Steam key.

While most games on Itch.io are DRM-free (probably 99%), there isn't a rule about it. Developers can do pretty much what they want. I even have one game in my account fror which the developer completely removed all downloadable files after the purchase (he offered a Steam key in return).

I don't really know about their refund policy. I got the game from a cheap Groupees bundle, so I didn't try to get a refund.

Also, as a side effect, it might leave the voting system free of bots.

But the most important thing is that this might leave a lot of spam out, yes.

We certainly could pay a respectful visit to Mr. Godwin, but I'll put it more simply: Let who is without sin, cast the first stone.

(If the lack of rep for mods is intentional) I think that they acknowledge that the rep system can be a source of stress. We are here by choice. An employee at least shouldn't have to care for that bad rep system when they are here for work.
So shouldn't any user - I use jerkmuter so I can't see anyone's rep including mine. Out of sight, out of mind.
Also, I suspect that GOG could turn off the rep system for users but choose not to to keep users engaged and post more. Those who are expecially targeted, like GamezRanker, are "casualties" of the system more than the norm.
This would depend on how the forum was built. If the mods have the power to turn off and on the rep for users or themselves I do know not. I don't think they made they platform in a specific way, but that they adopted it and are too cheap to change it. So it might be that mods not having rep and users having it is simply built in the system, without a real intent by GOG staff.

How exactly can it be Godwin's law when it doesn't have anything to do with Hitler, Nazis or even that time period? The link is about stuff that happened in the 80s.

And even today at least in Germany there are several reports that IKEA doesn't treat its' employees very well and that you are at risk to lose your job when you are part of a worker's council.